Chip packer



June 7, 1938. H. COOLIDGE 2,119,571

CHIP, PACKER Filed July 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l I 12 21612265: H 5yCooicpge '59 JAM JW H. COOLIDGE CHIP, PACKER June 7, 1 938.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1956 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CHIP PACKER corporation of Illinois Application July 27,1936, Serial No. 92,761

4 Claims.

This invention relates to means for charging wood pulp digesters, andhas to do with what I term a chip packer.

It is known to provide stationary nozzles for blowing steam or air intoa digester, through the neck thereof, for packing the wood chips duringthe charging operation. Rotary chip packers are also used in chargingthe digester but such packers are heavy, due to the use of a drivingmotor, necessary gears and associated parts, are difiicult to handle andrequire the use of a crane in moving them from one digester to another.

My invention is directed to the provision of a chip packer of simpleconstruction and operation, which is of comparatively light weight andreadily portable, and which may be driven by steam under pressure,readily available in pulp mills, in such manner that the steam isdistributed within the digester and is used to advantage in packing thewood chips and in conditioning them for the subsequent cookingoperation. More specifically, my invention comprises a propeller andmeans for admitting steam under pressure to the propeller anddischarging steam therefrom in such manner that the propeller is drivenin desired direction by the reaction of the discharged steam. Furtherobjects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detaileddescription.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a chip packer embodying my invention,as applied to a digester, the latter being shown fragmentarily and insection;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the chip packer of my invention as applied toa digester;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3of Figure l, on an enlarged scale;

Figure l is an axial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, through thelower portion of the propeller standard and the propeller, showing oneblade of the latter in section, parts being broken away and certainparts being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure4, with two of the propeller blades broken away;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure5;

50 Figure 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the control valveand associated parts, on an enlarged scale, certain parts being shown inelevation, taken-substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Figure'7; and

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the control valve.

In Figures 1 and 2, I have shown the chip packer of my inventionoperatively associated with charging neck a of a digester A, whichdigester is of known construction and need not be illustrated nordescribed in greater detail. The wood chips may be delivered to digesterA, through neck a. thereof in a suitable manner, conveniently from ahopper h, also of known construction, to which the chips are supplied ina known manner.

The chip packer of my invention comprises a suitable frame Iii adaptedto be supported in neck a of the digester A and to extend downward ashort distance into the digester, Frame 46 comprises an annular memberor ring II of angle cross section which seats upon the upper end of necka, as shown in Figure 1. Ring l l is welded or otherwise suitablysecured to the upper ends of the arms lZa of a U-shaped member l2, whicharms 12a are in part of T cross section, as will be clear from Figures 1and 2. Arms l3 extend inward from arms I20 of member I2 and are secured,at their inner ends to a standard 14 which passes through the lower endof frame member l2 and is suitably secured thereto, conveniently bywelding. The standard i4 is thus supported by frame It! coaxially withring I I.

Standard l4 comprises, for the major portion of its length, inner andouter tubular members 15 and i6, respectively, disposed in concentricspaced relation. Member l5 defines an inner passage or channel and thespace between members l5 and I6 defines an outer concentric passage orchannel of annular cross section. Member 15 is closed at its upper endby a top wall H and the space between members I5 and I6 is closed, atits upper end, by a wall 18 extending between these two members, asshown in Figure 3. Standard I4 is provided, below frame member I2, witha conical enlargement l9, below which enlargement the standard isprovided with an element 20 of less diameter than the base ofenlargement l9 but of somewhat greater diameter than member l6. Element20 is provided with upper and lower circumferential channels 2| and 22,respectively. The channel between members I5 and t6 communicates withchannel 2| through openings 23, and the passage or channel defined bymember l5 communicates with channel 22 through openings 24. Element 20is further provided with a plurality of relatively narrowcircumferential grooves 25 arranged in separate groups disposed betweenand above and below the and hub 29 of the propeller.

vided with two separate upper and lower passages 33 and 3%,respectively, and with discharge nozzles 35 and 36 adjacent the outerendof the blade and opening from passages 33 and 34, respectively,through the blade at opposite sides thereof. These nozzles arepreferably of Venturi form, as shown, though they may be of any othersuitable form.

Hub 29 is provided with upper and lower interior circumferentialchannels 3? and 38, re-

spectively, which open into passages 33 and 34,

respectively, of the blades 32, and with a plurality of relativelynarrow grooves 3% arranged in groups and disposed to register with thegrooves in element 2!] of'standard M. The grooves 25 and 39 constitutelabyrinth seals which are filled with steam, in the use of the packer,effective to prevent escape of steam between element 7 Hub 293 isfurther provided, at the top thereof, with an annular concentric rib 4Bwhich extends into a corresponding groove i! in the-base of enlargementl9 and provides additional sealing means and guiding means for thepropeller during rotation thereof.

The propeller is rotatably supported by means of suitable anti-frictionbearings, preferably ballbearings 42 mounted within sleeve 3! andcooperating therewith and with shoulders 27 and28 of stud 2'6. A ring'33 is secured, by means of set screws 46, within sleeve 3! at theunderneath of the upper baIL-bearings 42, and a collar 45 is suitablysecured, as by screw means, upon the lower end of stud 26 immediatelybeneath the lower bearings 42. A cover plate as is suitably secured, asby means of cap screws All, upon the lower end of sleeve 3!. Thepropeller 29 is thus supported upon the lower end of standard M forrotation about the axisthereof and sealing means is provided eifectiveto prevent objectionable leakage of steam between the hub of thepropeller and the associated portion of the standard. A sealing ring48-is pressed into sleeve 3! and fits about element 2 3, immediatelyabove the upper ball-bearings E2, to shield the ball bearings againstwater from the steam. ,Ring 48 is provided with an upwardly projectingconcentric 'rib which engages into a corresponding groove in the lowerend of element 28. While I have illustrated the preferred method ofsupporting the propeller for rotation, and for preventing leakage ofsteam between-the hub thereof and the associated portion of the standardM, the propeller may ,be mounted in any other suitable manner.

Two pipes 55 and 5! open into members i5 and !6, respectively, ofstandard M at the upper end thereof. A flat plate 52 is provided at theouter 1 ends of pipes'5Q and 5!, conveniently formed incentric opening56 for admission of steam to the interior of the valve from a steamsupply pipe 51 screwing into the bottom of housing 54. Valve 55 isclosed at its upper end and is there provided with a coaxial stem 58extending through a stuffing box 59 carried by a cover 60 suitablysecured to the upper end of housing 54 andeffeo tive to confine valve 55against upward movement. The upperportion of stem 58. is squared at 58afor reception of a suitable handle 6i (Figure 1) for turning valve 55into desired position. Valve 55 is further provided with upper and lowerports 62 and 63, respectively, disposed in the plane of ports 64 and 65,respectively, extend-' ing through block53 in register with the outerends of pipes 55! and 5!, respectively, as shown in Figures '7 to 9,inclusive. Ports 62 and 83 extend about valve 55 circumferentiallythereof for an appreciable distance and are oppositely disposed withrespect to the vertical medial plane of valve 55 as viewed in Figure 9.The end portions of each of the ports are of semi-circular shape and ofthe same radius as the ports 54 and 65.

Pipe 57 may be connected, in any suitable or convenient manner, to asteamline in the pulp mill, in which steam under pressure is extensivelyused and is commonly available in adequate amounts; In Figures '7 and 8valve 55 is shown in a position which it may assume when being turnedfor changing the direction of rotation of the propeller. In thisposition of valve 55 steam is admitted to both of the pipes 59 and 5!and thence flows throughthe channels of standard it into passages 33 and34 of the propeller blades 32, the steam discharged from the blades, atone side thereof tending to rotate the propeller in one direction by thereaction of the discharge steam, and the steam discharged from theblades at the other side thereof tending to rotate the propeller in theopposite directiomthe resultbeing that the speed of rotation of thepropeller is reduced, or the propeller may be momentarily stopped, ifdesired.

By turning the valve 55 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, so as to moveport 63 thereof entirely r5 beyond the area of port 65 of block 53,while maintaining port 52 in comunication with port M of block 53, itbeing understood that the ports 62 and 63 are of appropriate lengths forthis" purpose, steam is admitted to pipe only and,

therefore, to the lower passages 36 only of the propeller blades 32. Thepropeller is then rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, by.

the reaction of the steam discharged through the nozzles 36 opening frompassages 34 of the pro- -i peller blades. When the valve is turnedcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, sufficiently to cut offcommunication'between port 62 thereof and port as of block 53, whilemaintaining communication between port 83 and port of block 53, steam isadmitted through pipe 5! only and thence to passages 33 of the propellerblades 32, and the propeller is then rotated clockwise as viewed inFigure 2. By turning the valve 55 into position to cut-off communicationbetween ports 62 and 63 thereof and ports 54 and trolled by adjustingvalve 55 so that the effective" areas of ports 62 and 63 thereof exposedto ports 64 and 65, respectively, of block 53 are so proportioned as tocause rotation of the propeller in the The rate of rotation of desireddirection at any desired speed, within limits. I thus provide meanswhereby the propeller may be rotated in either direction at any desiredspeed, within limits, by means of steam derived from the steam linewithin the pulp mill, and rotation of the propeller and the supply ofsteam thereto may be stopped at will.

In the use of the chip packer, the wood chips are delivered into thedigester A through neck a thereof and are struck by the blades of therotating propeller and thereby propelled toward the surrounding wall ofthe digester. The steam discharged from the propeller blades serves topreheat the wooden chips and to moisten them to a certain extent, whichis conducive to uniform and close packing while also placing the chipsin best condition for the subsequent cooking operation. The ability torotate the propeller in either direction and to control its speed, asrequired, is advantageous as conducive to uniform distribution and quickpacking of the chips. Since the propeller is driven by steam derivedfrom a steam line within the mill it is not necessary to provide aseparate motor of considerable weight for driving the propeller. As aresult, the chip packer forms a unit of comparatively light weight whichcan be readily handled and transported by hand from one digester toanother, avoiding the necessity for providing a crane for transportingand positioning the packer, such as is necessary in using packers ofpresent types above referred to.

The propeller is preferably driven by steam, for the reasons abovestated. In its broader aspects, however, my invention comprehendsdriving the propeller by steam, compressed air, or any other suitablefluid under pressure.

While I have illustrated herein, by way of example, the preferredembodiment of my invention, changes in construction and arrangement ofparts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the field andscope ofthe same, and I intend to include in this application all suchvariations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted tobe supported in the charging neck of a digester and to extendtherethrough into the digester, a propeller comprising a blade at thelower end of said frame mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, saidblade being provided with twopassages and discharge openings from saidpassages through opposite sides of said blade, and means for admittingsteam under pressure to either of said passages selectively.

2. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted tobe supported in the charging neck of a digester and to extendtherethrough into the digester, a multiple blade propeller mounted atthe lower end of said frame to rotate about a vertical axis, each bladeof said propeller being provided with an upper passage and a lowerpassage and having openings from said passages through the oppositesides of the blade, and means for selectively admitting fluid underpressure to the upper and the lower passages of said blades.

3. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digesters, a frame adapted tobe supported in the charging neck of a digester, a standard supported byand extending below said frame, a propeller comprising a hub rotatablymounted on the lower portion of said standard and blades radiating from.said hub, the latter being provided with upper and lower passages andsaid blades being provided with upper and lower passages opening intothe respective hub passages, said blades having discharge openings fromthe respective passages thereof through the opposite sides of saidblades, said standard being provided with separate steam supply passagesopening into the respective passages of said propeller hub, and meansfor admitting steam under pressure from outside the digester to eitherof the passages of said standard selectively.

4. In a chip-packer for charging wood pulp digester-s with wood chips, aframe adapted to be supported in the charging neck of a digester and toextend therethroughinto the digester, a propeller comprising a bladeadjacent the lower end 1 of said frame free for rotation about averticalaxis, said propeller being exposed to the space thereabove within saidframe for contact with wood chips passing downward through said frameinto the digester, said blade being provided with a passage, and meansfor admitting fluid under pressure to said passage and discharging fluidtherefrom effective for rotating said propeller by the reactionof thedischarged fluid.

HARRY COOLIIDGE.

